Counting marmots…
In recent years, there has been increased interest in how hemiparasitic plants impact plant community diversity, richness, and productivity. While this work has highlighted the impact that hemiparasitic plants have on aboveground plant community structure, little is known about the role these plants play belowground. Given the prevalence of parasitic plants in natural ecosystems and the diversity of parasitic habits, it is of utmost importance that we study the impact that these ecosystem engineers have on their environment from a holistic perspective. In this study, I aim to investigate the effects of Castilleja sulphurea on neighboring plant populations and community dynamics, nutrient cycling, and soil microbial communities by assessing their direct and litter-mediated effects. My work will provide a comparison of the two pathways, ultimately contributing to a greater understanding of how parasitic plants impact surrounding plant communities and ecosystem nutrient cycling.